Added: Jul 20, 2008
From: jbranstetter04
Duration: 3:48
Even back in 1938 they were dreaming of a clean and unlimited source of energy. Now in 2008, it's finally time for us to become independent of foreign oil. If we want to do it sooner rather than later, it's going to require some compromise from all sides. If we don't compromise and get started now, then ten years from now, we will have no one to blame but our selves for the economic and environmental damage that will have taken place. So just pick a reason, whether its economic security, national security, global warming, or a concern for our environment, pick one, two, three, or all of the above, or maybe you have a different reason, it doesn't matter as long as we all have the same goal of being energy independent. Copyright 2007 The Need Project. What Is Solar Energy? Solar energy is radiant energy that is produced by the sun. Every day the sun radiates, or sends out, an enormous amount of energy. The sun radiates more energy in one second than people have used since the beginning of time! History of Solar Energy People have harnessed solar energy for centuries. As early as the 7th century B.C., people used simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they would cause wood to catch fire. More than 100 years ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to make steam to drive a steam engine. In the beginning of this century, scientists and engineers began researching ways to use solar energy in earnest. One important development was a remarkably efficient solar boiler invented by Charles Greeley Abbott, an American astrophysicist, in 1936. The solar water heater gained popularity at this time in Florida, California, and the Southwest. The industry started in the early 1920s and was in full swing just before World War II. This growth lasted until the mid-1950s when low-cost natural gas became the primary fuel for heating American homes. The public and world governments remained largely indifferent to the possibilities of solar energy until the oil shortages of the 1970s. Today, people use solar energy to heat buildings and water and to generate electricity. Photovoltaic Cells Photovoltaic comes from the words photo meaning light and volt, a measurement of electricity. Sometimes photovoltaic cells are called PVcells or solar cells for short. You are probably already familiar with solar cells. Solar-powered calculators, toys, and telephone call boxes all use solar cells to convert light into electricity. Solar Energy and the Environment Using solar energy produces no air or water pollution, and it is a free and widely available energy source. Manufacturing the photovoltaic cells to harness that energy, however, consumes silicon and produces some waste products. In addition, large solar thermal farms can harm desert ecosystems if not properly managed. Most people agree, however, that solar energy, if it can be harnessed economically, is one of the most viable energy sources for the future.
Channel: Tech
Tags: alternative economical energy farm independence power solar
Rating: 5.00 ( 5 ratings) Views: 532 Comments: 6
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